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Politics : Impeach George W. Bush -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Selectric II who wrote (11178)	2/16/2002 4:45:15 PM
From: MSI	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 93284

You said:"Lobbyists" are the American public..." Would that were the case - but obviously it isn't. Certainly, if I were to petition the government, with a bag of cash, I would expect disclosure ! It's the secrecy that's the problem, not the petitioning. What would you want kept secret, and why? This is my government and my hired representatives, after all. You talking to them is my business, if it has anything to do with me. Which, if it involves tax dollars or public policy, it most certainly does.

To: Selectric II who wrote (11178)	2/16/2002 7:06:04 PM
From: Tom C	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 93284

Lobbyists" are the American public Ok, I can agree that lobbyists are people too. I don't think being a matter of pubic record would be a problem at all. In fact, if my cause were just, I'd certainly want as many people as possible to know what and why I'm petitioning my representative. On the other hand if I'm trying to pull a fast one, the present system is better. That brings up another issue. I used the term "my representative." Ninety-nine times out of 100, these lobbyist citizens are not trying to influence their representatives, they're trying to influence mine. I'm not saying they don't have the right to do this, I'm suggesting, I have a right to know about it. Let's say I'm the CEO of XYZ Corp. I hire and promote or bring in a group of executives. I delegate responsibility to them. I also give them a broad mandate representing our common goals for the company. One of my Executives is tasked to formulate our Information Systems strategy for the next five years. He contacts numerous vendors in the IT field, has them sign confidentiality agreements and they hold a series of meetings to discuss where the industry will be in the next 5 - 10 years. In my Monday morning status meeting I asked this Exec to send me the minutes of the meetings he had with the vendors. Imagine my surprise when he claimed that some of the vendor would be uncomfortable if he turned over the transcripts. When I pressed him further he shockingly claimed "Executive" privilege and on principle reused to let me have a copy of the transcripts! It all boils down to this, "the consent of the governed" and "who’s the boss." We need full disclosure to make correct decisions.